Car-coupling



(No Model.)

L- SELF.

I CAR COUPLING. No. 363,651. Patented May 24, 1887.

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BY ,ZLM W 7 y 7 ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LAVEGA SELF, OF PIEDMONT, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.363,551, dated May 24, 1887.

I Application filed April14,1887. Serial No. 234,778. (Nomodel) To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, LAVEGA SELF, of Piedmont, in the county of Wayne and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken on line a: w in Fig. 4, of a coupling constructed according to my improvement. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. larged longitudinal section of the end of one of the couplings, taken on line 3 y in Fig. 4; and Fig. 4 is a partial plan view.

' Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective device for coupling rai1- way-cars which will be entirely automatic in its operation, and will thus relieve the trainmcn from danger in coupling the cars.

My invention consists in the combination, with the chambered head of the draw-bar, of a spring-pressed follower adapted to hold the pin in an elevated position; also, to hold the link in suitable position for engagement with the draw-head of the adjacent car.

The chambered head A of the draw-bar B is provided with the usual vertical aperture, a, for receiving the pin 0, and in the chamber of the draw bar is placed a follower,'b, provided with the head 0, between which and the rear wall of the chamber is placed aspring, d. The pin 0, inserted in the aperture a, is cut away at its lower end, forming a shoulder, 6, and is provided with a lug, f, projecting laterally from one side in position to rest upon the top of the draw-bar when the pin is withdrawn from the coupling-link, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. At the side of the hole a, in the upper part of the draw-bar, is formed a groove, 9, which allows of the passage of the lug f when the pin drops after being released by the entrance of the link D into the drawbar. Upon the top of the draw-bar is arranged a covering, it, for the lug f, which is provided with a segmental recess, f, which permits the said lug f to turn through a part of a revolution after being lifted through the top of the draw-bar.

Fig. 3 is an en-" The operation of my improved coupling is as follows: By raising the pin 0 so as to bring the lugfin the segmental recessf of the covering h, and turning the said pin so as to bring the flattened surface thereof against the upper edge of the head 0 of the follower b, with the shoulder e resting upon the top of the said head, the pin 0 is held in position for engagement with the link D, carried by the coupling of the adjacent car. When the link D enters the chambered head A of the draw-bar B, it pushes back the follower b and releases the pin (3, so that it drops through the link D and effects the coupling of the cars.

lower part, to enable it to hold the link D in a suitable'position, so that it will enter the adjacent coupling.

The coupling is uncoupled by withdrawing the pin 0 by means of the rod 2', extending to the top of the car. The pin 0 is provided with a T-shaped head, j, which rests in a transverse notch, 70, in the covering h, and prevents the pin from turning when the cars are coupled, thus always insuring the engagement of the convex side of the lower end of the pin 0 with the lower part of the draw bar.

To prevent wear in the interior of the drawhead, I have provideda washer, F, which is placed in the draw'head and forms a guide for the follower b, as well as an abutment for the Spring d. p

The coupling-pin may be turned so that the coupling will not operate, thus enabling the train-men to push the cars without coupling them.

The beveled head of the follower keeps the link always at the bottom of the draw-head, thereby keeping the strain on the pin near the bearing in the hole in the draw-head.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the draw bar B, provided with the chambered head A, of a spring-actuated follower, b, provided with the beveled head 0, the pin 0, provided with the shoulder e and lug f, and the covering h, adapted to retain the lug f and limit the turning of the pin 0, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the chambered The head 0 of the follower b is cut away or beveled on its head A of the draw-bar B, of the pin 0, prospring-actuated follower I), provided with the vided with the T-shaped head j, and the covbeveled head 0, and the covering 71, having [0 ering h, having the transverse notch'k, sub the segmental recess f and the transverse stantially as described. 7 notch 70, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the draw-bar B, LAVEGA SELF. having the chambered head A, provided with \Vitnesses:

the aperture a, of the pin 0, having the shoul- FINLEY PURTEET, der 0 and T-shaped head j, the rod 1, the JOHN OQZIEGLER. 

